WHILE we are saddened by the loss of a great man, we should use this solemn occasion to reflect on Mr Lee Kuan Yew's legacy as well:
While we complain about the many challenges facing our nation, have we ever thought about where we would be without Mr Lee, who steered Singapore to independence and who transformed the Republic into a First World country?
The history of Singapore's survival and the story of Mr Lee and other pioneer leaders are too important to be missed, and need to be entrenched into our educational curriculum.
This is to ensure that our primary and early secondary school students are taught the hard truths of Singapore's survival and what makes good citizenry, responsibility and respect.
In 1965, as a Primary 2 pupil, I watched Mr Lee cry upon learning of Singapore's ouster from the Malaysian Federation. But he never gave up on Singapore.
Mr Lee gave his whole life to building Singapore.
I am reminded of the late United States president John F. Kennedy's speech urging American citizens to participate in public service and to "ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country".
May the loss of Mr Lee invigorate each of us to rededicate ourselves to building a better Singapore, and galvanise and unite us as one nation.
William Tan Kian Meng (Dr)
Gratitude
While we complain about the many challenges facing our nation, have we ever thought about where we would be without Mr Lee, who steered Singapore to independence and who transformed the Republic into a First World country?
Education
The history of Singapore's survival and the story of Mr Lee and other pioneer leaders are too important to be missed, and need to be entrenched into our educational curriculum.
This is to ensure that our primary and early secondary school students are taught the hard truths of Singapore's survival and what makes good citizenry, responsibility and respect.
Resilience
In 1965, as a Primary 2 pupil, I watched Mr Lee cry upon learning of Singapore's ouster from the Malaysian Federation. But he never gave up on Singapore.
Public service
Mr Lee gave his whole life to building Singapore.
I am reminded of the late United States president John F. Kennedy's speech urging American citizens to participate in public service and to "ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country".
May the loss of Mr Lee invigorate each of us to rededicate ourselves to building a better Singapore, and galvanise and unite us as one nation.
William Tan Kian Meng (Dr)
